Pneumatic vehicle tire



United States Patent Inventors Hans Menell Ahlem, Hannover; HermannHenning, Hannover, Germany Appl. No. 735,227 Filed June 7, 1968 PatentedDec. 29, 1970 Assignee Continental Gummi-Werke AktiengesellschaftHannover, Germany PNEUMATIC VEHICLE TIRE 5 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

(1.5. CI. 152/354, 152/361 Int. Cl B60c 5/08, 1360c 9/06, B60c 13/00Field of Search; 52/335641,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,984,282 5/1961 Vittorelli152/36] 3,327,753 6/1967 Travers 152/356 Primary Examiner-Drayton E.Hoffman Attorney-Walter Becker ABSTRACT: A pneumatic vehicle tire withfirst and second strength members in overlapping arrangement with eachother and located radially inwardly of the tire tread strip, and withthird strength members leading from bead to head and while passingthrough the tire sidewalls and radially inwardly of the overlapping areaof said first and second strength members extending substantially at aright angle with regard to the tire circumferential plane of symmetry,said first and second strength members respectively defining acute butinverse angles with said plane of symmetry whereas those sections ofsaid third strength members which are located between said area ofoverlapping and the tire shoulders have an inclination opposite to theinclination of the respective adjacent portions of said first and secondstrength members.

PNEUMATIC VEHICLE rms The present invention concerns a pneumatic vehicletire with threads, cords, wires or the like extending from head to beadand passing through the tire sidewalls at a right angle or approximatelyright angle with regard to the tire circumferential direction, and withan annular reinforcing insert which extends substantially over the widthof the tread strip 1 and is composed of cord fabric layers which whenviewed in the transverse direction of the tire are located adjacent toeach other, the threads, cords, wires or the like of said cord fabricextending at an incline with regard to the tire circumferentialdirection in such a way that the threads, cords, wires or the like ofone layer extend in one inclined direction whereas those of the otherlayer extend in the opposite inclined direction.

With heretofore-known pneumatic tires as disclosed, for instance, inGerman Pat. No. 1,198,691, the two adjacent cord fabric layers areassociated with a cord fabric layer, the threads, cords, wires or thelike extend transversely to the tire circumferential direction. Thesetransversely extending threads, cords, wires or the like in the treadstrip zone of the tire are intended to keep the increase in the width ofthe tire within admissible limits, which is necessary with this type oftire because the further layers in the tire zenith portion are, whenviewed in the transverse direction of the tire, located adjacent to eachother.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a pneumatic vehicletire which will prevent the increase in width and circumference of thetire in the tire strip zone.

It is another object of this invention to provide a pneumatic vehicletire as set forth in the preceding paragraph which will improve thedriving properties of the tire.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will appear moreclearly from the following specification in connection with theaccompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a radial partial section through apneumatic vehicletire according to the invention;

FIG. 2 shows the arming of the tire according to FIG. 1 which, forreasons of simpler illustration is shown as being located in the drawingplane and in top view; and

FIG. 3 diagrammatically illustrates a radial partial section through apneumatic vehicle tire according to the invention the arming of whichwithin the area of the tread strip zone is somewhat modified over thatin the tire according to FIG. 1.

The tire according to the present invention is characterized primarilyin that the two cord fabric layers overlap each other and that thethreads, wires, cords or the like which lead to the beads extend in theoverlapping area at a right angle or practically a right angle withregard to the tire circumferential direction, whereas the sections ofthe threads, cords, wires or the like which are anchored to the beadsand are located at both sides of the overlapping area extend along anincline which is opposite to that of the threads, cords, wires or thelike pertaining to the adjacent cord fabric layer.

With a tire of this construction, in which the overlapping area of thecord fabric layer is preferably arranged centrally below the treadstrip, the overlapping cord fabric layers bring about an additionalreinforcement. Moreover, the said overlapping cord fabric layers resultin a relatively high strength of the tire body in transverse directionin view of the fact that the threads, cords, wires or the like the endsof which are anchored in the tire beads while the threads are locatedbelow the overlapping area, extend at least an approximately right anglewith regard to the tire circumferential direction. At both sides of theoverlapping area there is arranged a cross section which is formed bythe cord fabric layers and the threads, cords, wires or the likeanchored to the tire beads.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, the tire body 1 which consistsprimarily of rubber or the like, comprises a tread strip 2, sidewalls 3and bead cores 5 respectively located in the beads 4. The tirefurthermore comprises thread-shaped reinforcing inserts which arevulcanized in and are substantially parallel to each other. Thesereinforcing inserts may be designed as pull-resistant threads, cables,bands or the like, and may be called strength members."

The arming consists in particular of three layers, viz. a layer 6 withthreads 7 or the like extending from bead to bead in an uninterruptedmanner and anchored in the tire beads 4 by being looped around the beadcores 5.

Within the area of the tread strip 2, between the latter and the layer 6there are provided two cord fabric layers 8 and 9 which consist ofpull-resistant threads 10 and in which cord fabric layers 8 and 9 extendat an incline at an angle of from 530 with regard to the tirecircumferential direction. Within the area of the center line 1, the twocord fabric layers 8, 9 overlap each other. The overlapping area 13 hasa width which corresponds approximately to from 10 percent to 30 percentof width B approximately equaling the tread strip B. Preferably, thewidth b amounts to about 25 percent of the total width B. The inclinedangle of the threads 10 is so selected that for the two cord fabriclayers 8 and 9 an opposite inclined ascent is obtained while forming across connection at the overlapping area 12.

The threads 7 extend in the tire sidewalls 3 practically at a rightangle with regard to the tire circumferential direction. Below the twolaterally outwardly located marginal portions of the two cord fabriclayers 8, 9 the threads are angled off while forming sections 13 of thethreads which extend in opposite direction with regard to thesuperimposed sections of the threads 10. The thread angles of the threadsections 13 are furthermore greater than the angles of the threads 10thereabove. The said thread angles amount to approximately 30 to 45.Below the overlapping area 12, the threads 7 extend again in atransverse direction. Thus, the threads 7, for all practical purposesextend at a right angle to the tire circumferential direction.

As will be seen from the drawings, in view of the above arrangements, atthe overlapping area 12, viewed over the width b, a cross connection isobtained with additionally transversely extending thread sections,whereas at both sides of the overlapping area 12, merely a crossconnection is provided. As a result thereof, a desirable stiffening ofthe tire body 1 precisely below the center of the tread strip 2 isobtained. Thus, during the running of the tire, disadvantageous beadforms are prevented. A nearly uniform wear over the entire width of thetread strip is realized. Additionally, precisely within the area of thelargest diameter of the tire body 1, care has to be taken that anincrease in the width of the tire will be prevented.

In addition thereto, the arming below the tread strip 2 is so selectedthat in view of the cooperation of the cord fabric layers 8, 9 and ofthose sections of the thread 7 which are adjacent to said cord fabriclayers 8, 9, a belt-shaped reinforcement is obtained which extends overthe entire circumference of the tire and brings about a sufficientlygood lateral stabilization of the tire.

When subjected to higher stresses, the tire can be reinforced byadditional layers in which instance, however, care is to be taken thatwith the further layers 6 or cord fabric layers 8 and 9 the threads 7and 10 thereof extend parallel to those threads of the adjacent layerwhich are associated with said threads 7, 10. Thus, with reference toFIG. 3, two layers 8' and 9' are provided. The course of the threadscorresponds to that of FIG. 2 with the difference that all hereillustrated threads are doubled. However, with the here-provideddoubling of the layer, a mutual offsetting of the overlapping area 12'is provided. One overlapping area 12' is located, to a major extent,more on one side of the central line 11 of the tire, whereas the otheroverlapping area is located more on the other side of the central line11 of the tire. In this way, a still wider cross connection is obtainedwith additional reinforcement by those sections of thread 7 which extendat a right angle with regard to the circumferential direction of thetire. Furthermore, also an overlapping of the two overlapping areas 12'is obtained, as is clearly shown in FIG. 3.

It is, of course, understood that with additional arming layers, acorresponding offset of the overlapping areas 12 may be effected.

The pneumatic tire described above has the additional ad vantage that itcan be produced in conformity with the flat band method. The layers 6may, for building up the hollow cylindrical raw tire be formed ofthreads which are stretched out and extend at a right angle with regardto the circumferential direction of the raw tire. The course of thethread will then be obtained by a mutual influencing of the layers 6, 8and 9 during the curving operation or the pressing of the tire in thevulcanizing mold.

It may also be mentioned that in view of the overlapping areas, it ispossible to obtain an almost cylindrical tread strip zone which, with acorrespondingly shaped tread surface, brings about a minimum wear of thetire.

If, in confonnity with FIG. 3 two layers 6 and two cord fabric layerpairs 8', 9' are employed, the sequence of the layers is in conformitywith FIG. 1 effected in steps. Above a cord fabric layer pair 8', 9'having associated therewith a layer 6 facing the hollow chamber of thetire, there is provided a further layer 6' over which again the cordfabric 8', 9 is arranged. The tire reinforcement according to FIG. 3thus consists, so to speak, of two superimposed ann portions inconformity with FIG. 1 while the overlapping areas 12' are offset withregard to each other.

it is, of course, to be understood, that the present invention is, by nomeans, limited to the particular arrangement shown in the drawing, butalso comprises any modifications within the scope of the appendedclaims.

We claim:

1. A pneumatic vehicle tire having a tread strip with tire shoulders onopposite sides of said tread strip, and also comprising beads, whichincludes: a first layer of strength members arranged radially inwardlyof said tread strip and extending from an area on one side of thecentral radial plane of symmetry of the tire to the area of one tireshoulder on the other side of said plane of symmetry, a second layer ofstrength members arranged radially inwardly of said tread strip andpartially radially inwardly of the strength members of said first layerwhile extending from an area on said other side of said plane ofsymmetry to the area of the other tire shoulder so that said first andsecond layers overlap each other radially inwardly of said tread stripwhile their strength members are inclined in inverse manner with regardto each other but at substantially the same angle with regard to saidplane of symmetry, and a third layer of strength members locatedradially inwardly of said first and second layers and having itsstrength members extend from head to bead while passing through thesidewalls of the tire and the area of overlapping of said first andsecond strength members at an at least nearly 90 angle with regard tosaid plane of symmetry, those sections of the strength members of saidthird layer which are located between said shoulders and the area inwhich said first and second layers overlap extending at an angle ofinclination with regard to said plane of symmetry which is opposite tothe angle of inclination of the respective adjacent strength members ofsaid other two layers, the tire comprising a plurality of pairs ofoverlapping first and second layers of strength members, and in whichthe area of overlapping of the strength members respectively pertainingto a first and second layer of each pair is asymmetric with regard tosaid plane ofsymmetry.

2. A vehicle tire according to claim 1, in which the area of overlappingof said first and second layers of strength members is located radiallyinwardly of the central portion of said tread strip.

3. A vehicle tire according to claim 1, in which the area of overlappingof said first and second layers of strength members has a width equalingfrom 10 percent to 30 percent of the distance between the outermostlateral edges of said first and second layers.

4. A vehicle tire according to claim 1, in which the tire includes atleast one pair of first layers of strength members and at least one pairof second layers of strength members and also includes at least one pairof third layers of strength members, and in which one layer of said pairof third layers has a portion thereof adjacent one first layer whereasanother layer of said pair of third layers 15 located ad acent anotherfirst layer and the respective adjacent second layer.

5. A pneumatic vehicle tire having a tread strip with tire shoulders onopposite sides of said tread strip, and also comprising beads, whichincludes: a first layer of strength members arranged radially inwardlyof said tread strip and extending from an area on one side of thecentral radial plane ofsymmetry of the tire to the area of one tireshoulder on the other side of said plane of symmetry, a second layer ofstrength members arranged radially inwardly of said tread strip andpartially radially inwardly of the strength members of said first layerwhile extending from an are on said other side of said plane of symmetryto the area of the other tire shoulder so that said first and secondlayers overlap each other radially inwardly of said tread strip whiletheir strength members are inclined in inverse manner with regard toeach other but at substantially the same angle with regard to said planeof symmetry, and a third layer of strength members located radiallyinwardly of said first and second layers and having its strength membersextend from bead to bead while passing through the sidewalls of the tireand the area of overlapping of said first and second strength members atan at least nearly angle with regard to said plane of symmetry, thosesections of the strength members of said third layer which are locatedbetween said shoulders and the area in which said first and secondlayers overlap extending at an angle of inclination with regard to saidplane of symmetry which is opposite to the angle of inclination of therespective adjacent strength members of said other two layers, the areaof overlapping of said first and second layers of strength membershaving a width equaling about 25 percent of the distance between theoutermost lateral edges of said first and second layers, the area ofoverlapping of a first layer of a pair of first and second layers with asecond layer of the same pair being laterally offset with regard to thearea of overlapping of another first and second layer of an adjacentpair of first and second layers.

